Tom Pentefountas moves to Stingray as VP of sales

Stingray Digital Group Inc. has appointed Tom Pentefountas as senior vice-president of sales for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

A press release Monday said that the former vice-chairman of broadcasting for the CRTC will join Stingray Nov. 30 and will work from its London, England, office.

Stingray said that Pentefountas will oversee international sales development and develop relations with sales agents as well as TV operators in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Rob Farina leaves Rogers after reported record label spat

Rob Farina has resigned as vice-president of content with Rogers Communications Inc.'s media division, the company has confirmed, following a report he called for a boycott of a record company he saw as favouring BCE Inc.

Pandora to acquire assets of Rdio for $75M US

Pandora Media Inc. announced Monday it will be acquiring key assets from music streaming service Rdio Inc. for $75 million US.

It said in a press release that it will be acquiring technology and intellectual property, as well as hiring some employees, from Rdio and plans to expand Pandora’s listening experience by late 2016.

Shoan tells radio operators to focus on smartphones

CRTC commissioner Raj Shoan told a group of broadcasting professionals this week that radio operators should look at how they can become a bigger presence on smartphones in order to hold their own against an increasing number of new options for audio consumption, such as online streaming.

Apple Music available on Android

Apple Inc. has made its music-streaming app available for Android devices.

The Apple Music website now includes a link, that takes users to the Google Play store, to download what it calls a "beta" version of the app for Google Inc.'s Android operating system.

Quebecor appoints Lyne Robitaille music division VP

Quebecor Inc. announced Wednesday that its music division will now be headed by Lyne Robitaille, who will become the senior vice-president of newspapers, books and music.

It said in a press release that Distribution Select, Quebec’s largest music distributor, and Musicor, Quebecor's music label,  will now be part of Quebecor’s Media Group.

Napster launches music subscription service to Canadians

Rhapsody International Inc.’s music subscription service, Napster, announced Monday that its subscription service is now available in Canada.

It said in a press release that, for a limited time, Canadians can subscribe to the service and get the first three months for $1, after which it will be $9.99 per month.

Youtube to launch paid video subscription service

Google Inc.’s Youtube announced Wednesday it will launch a new paid video subscription service that will have ad-free original content.

It said in a blog post that the service, called Youtube Red, will be available on all platforms and devices and will be priced at $9.99 US per month. It added that users will be able to save videos and watch them offline and that early next year users will get to watch new original shows from some of Youtube’s content creators.

Rogers, Telus on opposing sides of zero-rated music case

An undue-preference complaint against a music streaming service offered by Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron has Rogers Communications Inc. arguing that zero-rating the service is a net-neutrality violation, while Telus Corp. is supporting Videotron and saying the service does not harm consumers.

CRTC postpones intervention deadline in Videotron music case

The CRTC has moved back the deadline for interventions in an undue preference complaint against a music service offered by Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron.

iPhone users more likely to stream: MTM

Apple Inc.’s iPhone owners stream audio and video content more than any other device owners, according to a new report released by Media Technology Monitor (MTM), a project of CBC/Radio-Canada.

The report said that among anglophone iPhone owners, 55 per cent stream audio and 68 per cent stream video. It said that of all anglophones that own any type of smartphone, 37 per cent are audio streamers and 46 per cent are video streamers. 

CRTC merges complaints against Videotron music service

The CRTC has merged two complaints against a service by Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron that exempts some music streaming services from counting against mobile customers’ data caps.

Stingray launches 4K TV channel

Stingray Digital Group Inc. has launched a channel that it says is the first in North America to offer around-the-clock 4K content.

The Stingray Ambiance channel is available through TV service offered by Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron, Stingray said in a press release Thursday.

Smartphones owned by 73% of anglo Canadians: MTM

Smartphone penetration among anglophone Canadians was at 73 per cent this spring, according to a new report by Media Technology Monitor (MTM), a project of CBC/Radio-Canada.

MTM said in a report Tuesday that the proportion of anglos with smartphones has grown from 69 per cent in 2014, 66 per cent in 2013 and was as low as 10 per cent in 2008.

The report showed that 86 per cent of anglophone Canadians report owning a cellphone of some kind, which was unchanged from the previous two years.

Tyson Parker to run music relations at Bell Media

Tyson Parker has been named head of artist and music industry relations at BCE Inc.'s Bell Media division, the company said Monday.

Data costs limit mobile-video consumption: Ericsson

A new report from Ericsson AB shows that while people are increasingly consuming video on mobile devices, the cost of data limits many from taking advantage of what the technology makes possible.

The report released Thursday from Ericsson's ConsumerLab division — based on research involving more than 22,500 people in 20 countries including Canada and the United States — said there has been a 71 per cent increase in the number of people viewing video on smartphones since 2011.

PIAC launches complaint against Videotron music service

The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is asking the CRTC to direct Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron to change the price structure of its new music service, which exempts data consumed through some music streaming apps from data caps.

Videotron “favours its own mobile service by making it more attractive and less expensive to use at the expense of all other [Internet] use and in particular any other non-covered audio content, streamed or otherwise,” PIAC said in a Part 1 complaint filed Tuesday.

Net-neutrality advocates cry foul over Videotron music service

MONTREAL — Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron is giving itself an undue preference with a new service that allows its mobile customers to listen to music streaming without it counting against their data caps, net neutrality advocates say.

Stingray, Google, Rdio joining Videotron for announcement

Representatives from Stingray Digital Group Inc., Google Inc.’s Google Music and Rdio Inc. will take part in the announcement about the new music service from Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron on Thursday, company spokeswoman France Gaignard said in an email Wednesday.

Videotron to launch new music service

Quebecor Inc.’s Videotron announced Tuesday it will be launching a new music service later this week.

It said in a news release that a service called Unlimited Music will be “a Canadian first in mobile services,” adding that more information will be released at a press conference on Thursday. 

Bell Media shakes up executive ranks

BCE Inc.'s Bell Media division has undergone a number of changes to its executive ranks, with four individuals leaving and one new one coming in.

The company confirmed in an email Tuesday that Phil King, president of CTV, sports and entertainment programming, has left. Also gone are: Adam Ashton, senior vice-president of English television and business operations; Chris Gordon, president of radio and local TV; and Charles Benoit, president of television and radio in Quebec. No explanation was provided for their departures.

Quebecor shuts down Zik music service

Quebecor Inc. on Friday announced it has shut down its Zik music-streaming service, citing a pattern of consolidation in global industry for online music.

"Despite the efforts of many independent sites around the world, many have gone out of business or were bought by very large global companies," Quebecor said in a press release issued in French.

Stingray to buy three TV channels

Stingray Digital Group Inc., a provider of music content through both traditional TV channels and streaming apps, announced Thursday it will acquire three TV music channels in order to expand its broadcast offerings.

CRTC to review rules for French-language music content

The CRTC announced Monday it plans to review rules for French-language vocal music on the radio.

It said in a release that it would re-examine the current framework in order “to ensure that it takes into account the current and future environment” of music.

The aim of the review will be to make sure that French-language vocal music is better discovered, promoted, created and consumed, especially in light of the ongoing movement toward listening to music on platforms other than the radio, the release noted.

Google launches free music-streaming service in U.S.

Google Inc. announced in a blog post Tuesday it will be adding to its current Google Play Music offering a free, ad-supported music streaming service.

It will give users “a new way to find just the right music and ... artists another way to earn revenue,” said the post.

Music-streaming revenue rose sixfold last year: SOCAN

Music-streaming revenue reported by the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) increased from $3.4 million in 2013 to $21.3 million in 2014, the organization said in a press release Tuesday.

Its total revenue was up 8.4 per cent to $299.5 million, and it distributed $241 million to its members, it said.

HuffPost TV channel approved for Canada

The television channel of AOL Inc.'s Huffington Post, called HuffPost Live, has been approved for distribution in Canada, the CRTC said Friday.

Peter Steinmetz appointed new Re:Sound chairman

Peter Steinmetz is the new chairman of Re:Sound Music Licensing Co.’s board of directors, the organization said Wednesday.

The organization, which is the copyright collective representing musical artists and labels in Canada, said Steinmetz, an entertainment lawyer, has previously served on the board of directors at a number of organizations, including as president of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, and as chairman of the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Apple announces new music streaming service

Apple Inc. announced Monday its new music streaming subscription service, called Apple Music.

The company said in a press release that the service will be available via an app to subscribers in more than 100 countries starting June 30 this year.

The release also detailed that the service will start with a three-month free membership, after which it will charge members $9.99 US per month. Details on local charges will be available closer to the launch date, said Tara Handela, PR manager Apple Canada, in an e-mail.

Radio Cancon rules could change: Blais

CRTC Chairman Jean-Pierre Blais said Thursday that rules regarding Canadian content for radio stations might change to help stations compete in the digital age.

According to speaking notes for a presentation to the Western Association of Broadcasters in Banff, Alta., Blais discussed how younger people are shunning radio in favour of online music streaming.

"As they do, we regulators are finding — as we did with television — that broadcast quotas are becoming increasingly less effective," Blais said.

Rdio launches mid-tier subscription option

Music streaming service Rdio Inc. said Thursday it is introducing a new mid-level service option in several markets, including Canada, for $3.99 a month.

The company said in a press release that the new option, called Rdio Select, will be ad-free and allow users to access up to 25 new songs a day on demand. This service also allows for an unlimited number of skips, or advancing to another song before another is over.

Stingray files for IPO

Stingray Digital Group Inc. has filed for an initial public offering, according to documents filed Friday with Canadian securities regulatory authorities.

The Montreal-based company’s products include audio TV channels, as well as music- and video-streaming apps. Stingray said in the preliminary prospectus that it operates in 111 countries and reaches an estimated 110 million TV subscribers.  

The company’s revenue in fiscal 2015 was $71 million, the document said.

Little growth in music streaming services: MTM

Media Technology Monitor (MTM), a project of CBC/Radio-Canada, said in report released Wednesday that the percentage of anglophones using "personalized" audio streaming services over the last year or so has been relatively flat.

MTM said 19 per cent of those surveyed last fall said they use personalized audio services, which is defined as a streaming service "available on the Internet which allows users to select from a number of possible streams and to customize playlists." This included pay services and free services that are ad-supported.

Kosiner looking for piece of TV music market

A 27-year-old entrepreneur wants to offer an alternative to what he calls a monopoly in the market for audio music channels offered through TV service providers in Canada.

Evan Kosiner, president and owner of Kosiner Venture Capital Inc., said in a phone interview there is still a business opportunity in audio-only music channels despite the impending launch of scaled-down TV subscriptions next year as mandated by the CRTC and the rise of online music streaming.

Fido customers to get exclusive content from Vice

Rogers Communications Inc. has launched new wireless plans for customers of its Fido brand that include exclusive content from Vice Media Inc.

Rogers bundles Spotify with Fido

Customers of Rogers Communications Inc.’s Fido subsidiary will receive free access to Spotify AB’s premium music-streaming service for two years, the company said Monday.

“Plug in and escape, anytime, anywhere, and listen to anything you're into,” Rogers said in a press release.

Spotify’s premium service usually costs $9.99 a month and allows users to listen to music off-line with no ads or restrictions on the songs customers can play and when they can play them, according to Spotify’s website.

Apple planning new music-streaming service: report

Apple Inc. is reportedly planning to launch its own music-streaming service, according to the New York Times.

The streaming service will be part of a “sweeping overhaul” of the company’s music services, the paper said, including the iTunes Store and its existing iTunes Radio service, the latter of which is not available in Canada.

Music streaming in Canada ramps up

In the past six months, Canadians’ usage of streaming music services seems to have jumped, in a trend that’s not only good news for streaming services, but wireless companies as well.

Nielsen Co. only began tracking music streaming in Canada in July 2014. By September, when Spotify AB entered the market, streaming had increased by 18 per cent, according to numbers provided to The Wire Report by independent broadcast consultant Andrew Forsyth, who collected the data for Nielsen.